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| A sleek metro train approaching a station in Bangalore, India at night, showcasing urban transport. |
Delhi Closes Metro Stations as Opposition Protests Voter List Changes
NEW DELHI — October 12, 2026
Authorities in New Delhi closed six metro stations and imposed traffic restrictions on October 12 as opposition parties protested changes to India’s voter lists and called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Congress party planned to take its challenge to the Supreme Court as security forces tightened controls across central Delhi.
The protests follow weeks of public anger over a voter list revision that critics say could unfairly remove eligible voters. The process, which began last year, has resulted in more than 130 million names being removed from the lists, including about 28 million people recorded as deceased, 63 million who had moved and 30 million who could not be located.
Opposition parties and supporters of the youth-led Cockroach movement have staged repeated demonstrations this month. They want Kumar to resign, arguing that the changes could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Election Commission has rejected accusations that it is favouring the ruling party. It has said people whose names were wrongly removed can register again, while the BJP has accused opposition parties of undermining public confidence in India’s electoral system.
Police closed six metro stations on Monday for security reasons and introduced traffic restrictions and diversions across more than 20 road sections. Hundreds of security personnel in riot-control equipment were deployed in central Delhi, where barricades blocked key roads and water cannons were kept ready.
Police also announced that Jantar Mantar, a well-known site for demonstrations in the capital, would no longer be designated as an official protest venue. Authorities identified three alternative locations for protests in an official order.
The Congress party said it would march to the Supreme Court to submit a petition challenging the voter list revision. The party had previously sought a meeting with Chief Justice Surya Kant to present a memorandum, but the request was declined.
Kant said the concerns raised by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi were already being considered by the court. He explained that discussing ongoing cases outside formal proceedings would be inappropriate and suggested that the party could file a petition instead.
Separately, leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), associated with the youth movement, said they were seeking permission from Delhi Police for another peaceful demonstration. The group said it expected authorities to provide a date and time and warned that it would give police a 24-hour ultimatum if the matter remained unresolved.
The movement has organised protests in recent months over issues including government school conditions, employment and examination paper leaks. Earlier this year, its supporters held a prolonged sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam paper leaks.
The latest demonstrations began after reports raised questions about concerns reportedly expressed by two of Kumar’s deputies over voter registration, revisions and digital systems. Opposition parties also allege that Muslim voters and other minorities have been disproportionately affected by the deletions. Both the Election Commission and the BJP reject those accusations.
The dispute has become a significant political challenge for Modi’s government, placing election administration and the protection of voting rights at the centre of a widening confrontation between the ruling party and its opponents.
